Police identify 25-year-old cyclist who died in Glendale crash

A 25-year-old Glendale cyclist was struck and killed by a vehicle Sunday morning in a South Glendale neighborhood, police said.

A witness reported that Melik Khanamiryan was riding at a “fast rate of speed” south on Glendale Avenue, near California Avenue, at about 7:10 a.m. when he failed to stop for a red light and entered the intersection, according to Glendale police spokeswoman Tahnee Lightfoot.

A motorist, who was identified as a 48-year-old Glendale woman, was reportedly driving eastbound on California Avenue and struck Khanamiryan.

Officers evaluated the driver at the scene and determined she was not impaired, she said.

Police are still investigating the fatal crash.

Walk Bike Glendale, a local chapter of the Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition, expressed “deep condolences” for the cyclist's family, the group’s chairwoman Katie Kurutz said in an email.

Just last week, group members handed out free lights as well as a road rules guide to cyclists traveling near the intersection of California Avenue and Brand Boulevard.

The group’s effort was part of Operation Firefly, which is aimed at improving safety for cyclists who are riding at night.

But group members also talked to cyclists and pedestrians about traffic safety in the city.

“Traffic safety is a serious issue in Glendale and we work very hard to prevent incidents like this through education and advocacy for safer street designs,” she said. “We will continue to work with our community partners to increase bicycle and pedestrian safety education as well as advocate for streets friendlier for people who walk and bike.”

Khanamiryan’s death marks the first bicycle-involved fatal collision in Glendale this year.

Last May, Roosevelt Middle School student Jonathan Hernandez, 13, was killed while riding his bicycle in Glendale.

Investigators said he was riding westbound at a high rate of speed in an eastbound lane at the intersection of Columbus Avenue and Riverdale Drive when he was struck and pinned by a school bus. Jonathan, police said, was traveling the wrong way and failed to yield at the intersection.

Prosecutors declined to file charges against the bus driver due to a lack of evidence.

Editor's Note: This post was updated at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 11, 2014 to include more information.